How to prevent norovirus infection and influenza？ What conditions do you need to see a doctor？ -experts answer hot issues on prevention and control of infectious diseases in spring.
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 25th Question: How to prevent norovirus infection and influenza? What conditions do you need to see a doctor? — — Experts answer hot issues of infectious disease prevention and control in spring.
Xinhua News Agency reporters Gu Tiancheng and Dong Ruifeng
At the time of communication in winter and spring, the school season is also ushered in all parts of the country. Recently, some children with vomiting and diarrhea were diagnosed as Norovirus infection. At the same time, the results of influenza surveillance in local disease control institutions show that the current level of influenza virus activity in China has increased, mainly influenza A.
What is norovirus infection and influenza, and how to prevent it? What conditions do you need to see a doctor? On the 25th, the National Health and Wellness Commission organized an authoritative expert, Wang Guiqiang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the First Hospital of Peking University, to answer the public’s hot issues about the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in spring.
1. Q: What is Norovirus? What are the symptoms after infection?
Wang Guiqiang: Norovirus belongs to the calicivirus family. After infection, the main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, which is an infectious disease of digestive tract. The source of infection is mainly from the mouth, but also through aerosol and close contact, such as primary school and kindergarten children holding and touching each other.
From the clinical manifestations, the symptoms are mild and severe, most of which are vomiting and diarrhea, while others lead to severe vomiting and diarrhea, and some serious cases may have systemic symptoms such as fever. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause a lot of electrolyte water loss in human body. Therefore, after being infected with Norovirus, it is necessary to fully rehydrate, pay attention to rest, and take sugar salt water or use rehydration salt in time.
2. Q: What do you need to see a doctor after being infected with Norovirus? How to prevent it?
Wang Guiqiang: If young children and the elderly are infected with Norovirus and show weakness, apathy, dry mouth and dry eyes, these conditions may be hypotension. We should measure blood pressure in time, go to the hospital in time, and give corresponding rehydration in the hospital.
If you dispose of it at home, you must pay attention to drinking light salt water or sugar salt water, because norovirus infection mainly leads to diarrhea and vomiting, which leads to the loss of a lot of electrolytes and water in the human body, which may have serious consequences. Some serious cases, such as elderly patients with basic diseases, may induce shock and other manifestations, so we should pay special attention to elderly patients with basic diseases.
Norovirus is mainly transmitted through the digestive tract. The first thing to do well in prevention is to manage the hygiene of food and water sources safely. The second thing is to do well in hand hygiene and wash your hands before meals. In places where children’s care institutions, primary schools and other people gather, once an epidemic situation occurs, it is necessary to immediately check whether food and water sources are polluted, and key areas such as canteens must be carefully inspected and sterilized to avoid further spread.
3. Q: What is the flu? What’s the difference with the common cold?
Wang Guiqiang: Influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza virus. The actual difference between influenza and common cold is mainly in the degree of illness and pathogen.
First, the etiology of the pathogen is different. There are many pathogens that can cause cold-like symptoms, and influenza is caused by influenza virus. At present, influenza A virus is more prevalent.
Second, flu symptoms are more serious than the common cold. Influenza can lead to persistent high fever, aching muscles and joints all over the body, and severe pneumonia. At the same time, influenza has the risk of aggravating the basic diseases of the elderly, and some patients may have secondary infections, such as upper respiratory tract infection, tracheitis and secondary bacterial infections. The general symptoms of the common cold are mild.
Third, in terms of treatment, influenza has specific drugs, and it is suggested that the sooner antiviral drugs are involved, the better. Although influenza is a self-limited disease, early use of drugs can shorten the course of disease, relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of severe illness. The common cold can generally be treated with symptomatic treatment. Drink plenty of water and pay attention to rest. There is no specific medicine.
Fourth, from the perspective of prognosis and complications, influenza is relatively harmful, and some individuals may cause the risk of hospitalization or even death.
4. Q: What symptoms do you need to see a doctor when you have the flu? How to prevent it?
Wang Guiqiang: From the point of flu treatment, generally speaking, symptomatic support treatment is the main treatment. If there is persistent high fever, shortness of breath and aggravation of basic diseases, you should go to the hospital in time. Especially for the elderly with basic diseases, it is suggested that they should go to the hospital in time when they have symptoms of fever, cough, headache and fatigue. If they are diagnosed with influenza, they should use antiviral drugs as soon as possible to avoid further deterioration of the disease, which will lead to the aggravation of the basic diseases. At the same time, it is recommended to carry out influenza vaccination every autumn.
Influenza is a respiratory infectious disease, and the prevention of respiratory infectious diseases is similar. Some measures to prevent Covid-19 infection are also measures to prevent influenza, and also help to reduce the risk of norovirus infection. Frequent ventilation, wearing a mask and good hand hygiene are all effective means to prevent influenza. In winter and spring, it is recommended that you wear masks in places where people gather or in closed spaces. Frequent hand washing, frequent ventilation and keeping social distance are effective in preventing all respiratory infectious diseases.